Regulating apparatus



0. J. N. HELPBRINGER 1,743,545

REGULATING APPARATUS Filed March 16, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l a m ewtoz3513 QWQWW wwv 1930. J. N. HELPBRINGER 1,743,545

REGULATING APPARATUS Filed March 16. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan.14, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE JAMES NELSON HELIPBRINGER, OFWESTERLEIGI-I, NEW YORK REGULA'IING APPARATUS Application filed March16, 1926. Serial No. 95,020.

My invention relates to improvements in from the boilers and steam fromsection2 may regulating arrangements and while the invenbe utilized inthe driving of engines or for tion may be applied to the regulation ofmany any otherpurpose. As shown in F ig. l, the diflerent kinds ofapparatus, it is particularly valve or pressure regulating device 3 is 5applicable'to the regulation of steam" pressure adapted to be operatedby an electric motor 55 in a steam supply line and more particularly orelectro-motive device t operatingthrough where the steam is supplied tothe line at a gears 5 and G. high pressure and it is desired to deliverthe 7 represents a suitable panel or framework steam therefrom at asubstantially lower for carrying certain portions of the regu- 19pressure. lating apparatus. Arranged on the panel 7 is 60 The mainobject of the invention is to proa bracket 8 carrying a circular steamchamvide an arran ement of this class which will her 9, the top of whichis closed by a diamaintain the fluid pressure or other condition phragm10 preferably composed of heavy at the desired point or very close to aprederubberized fabric which is clamped at its petermined desired valueor setting. A further riphcry to the circumferential edge of the 65objectis to provide an apparatus or arrange- Chamber 9 by means ofclamping ring 11 and ment for this purpose which is not only simbolts 12(see also F ig. 4). The chamber 9 is ple and inexpensive inconstruction, but connected to the line section 2 by means of a which isalso particularly eflicient in operasteam line or pipe 13 so that steammay be tion. admitted from the line 2 to the chamber 9 and g Furtherandmore specific objects, features the pressure of the steam in the chamber9 and advantages will more clearly appear will bet-he same as that inthe section 2.

from the detail description given'below taken Seated upon the diaphragm10 is a disc in connection with the accompanying drawshaped member 14:carrying a knife edge 15 5 ings which form a part of this spe ificatioseated in a groove in alever or beam 16 which 5 and which illustrateoneform of the invene m at its right-hand end as viewed in Fig. 1 tionapplied to the regulation of stea pr has on either side thereof knifeedges 17 sure. i r seated in grooves in depending ears 18 carried 7Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a view, by a bracket member 19secured'to frame 7.

l ly di r ti ill t ting a pre- Thus the lever beam 16 is fulcrumed inthe 30 f d. b di t f m i ti Fi 2 ears 18 about the knife edges 17 and isadapted is a top plan view of a portion f th appato be moved up and downby the diaphragm ratus taken on the line 22 of F ig. 1. F ig, 3 10 asthe pressure of the fluid in chamber 9. is atransverse section of th samt k on varies. In order to regulate the pressure at the line 3 -3 ofFig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a tra which the beam 16 will be so moved. there isverse section of the same tak on th li provided a sliding weight 20slidable along, 4-4 of Fig. 1. 1 the same and also a counter-weight 21sus- Referring to Fig. 1, 1, 2 represent a steam pended therefrom bymeansof the link 22, the line or pipe, steam being supplied at highefi'ect of which may be varied by adding more 0 pressure to the section1 and it being desired r l Weight to the counter-weight. :to maintainthe steam in the section 2 at a At the other end of the frame 7 there isprosubstantially lower but substantially constant V d l a bracket 23 Bwhich is s cured an elecpressure. For this purpose there is inte'rtricmotor 24 adapted 'to constantly rotate a posed between the sections 1and 2 a valve or n a cy inder 25, fixed to a shaft 26, pressureregulating device 3 adapted to conthrough suitable reduction gearing inthe trol the admission of steam from the high casing 274m also Fig. 3).The upper end of i ,c pressure side to the low pressure side 2 in theshaft 26 is journaled in a bracket 28..

order to yary or maintain the pressure of The constantly rotatingcylindrical contact the steam 1n the section 2. The steam may be member25 is preferably made of insulating supplied at high pressure directlyto sectionl material but is providedo'n each end with sheet metalcontact members 29 and 30 respectively,- these contact membersextendingentirely around the cylindrical member 25. At

one point about the circumference of the member .25 the metal contactmembers 29 and 30 are provided with projecting portions31 and 32respectively, extending toward one another substantially parallel to theaxis of rotation of the rotating member and preferably tapering towardtheir ends as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. Thus each rotatingcontact'29, and 30 h'asgaps between the projecting portions 31 and 32respectively which vary in width in the'direction of the axis ofrotation of the contact member.

The beam I or lever 16 1s provided at its left-hand end as viewed inFig. 1

with a switch arm 33 preferably made of insulating material and carryinga spring contact 34 to which electrical connection may be made to aconducting wire 35 by means of connecting screw 36.

When the beam 16 is in its normal position the'contact 34 is adapted tolie between the contact portions 31 and 32 so that as therotatingfswitch contact member 25 rotates the' contact spring 34 is outof contact with both of the contact portions 31 and 32. As shown in Fig.1 the conducting wire 35 is connected to one pole of the battery orother source of E. M. F., 38 and the other pole of the battery isconnected by wire conductor 39 to one A pressure of the steam in section2.

terminal each of the electro-rnagnets 40 and 41; The other terminal ofthe magnet v40 is connected by wire 42 to a spring pressed contact 43which constantly bears-against the continuous band portion of thecontact 29 of the-rotating member 25. The other terminal of theelectro-magnet 41 is connected by a wire 44 to a spring pressed contact45 which makes constant contact with the continnous band portion of thecontact 30 of the member 25.

In operation should the pressure of the fluid in the pipe 2 or otherfluid holding means rise above the predetermined value, the

same increase'in pressure in'the chamber 9.

will cause the diaphragm 10 to lift the beam 16 about its fulcrum 17 andcause the contact 34 to move over the rotating contact member 25 in thedirection of its axis of rotation and bring the spring contact 34 fromits neutral position between the contacts 29 and 30 into contact withthe portion 31 of the contact 29 asthe'contact member 25 revolves. Thiswill close the circuit through the magnet 40 causing it to operate arelay switch 4 6 to close a circuit through the electro-motive device 4which will operate the valve 3 to reduce the.

admission of steam or 'fluid from the section 1 tothe section 2 and sotend to reduce the owever, the circuit through the magnet 40 is onlymomentarily closed because with the continued rotation of the contactmember 25, the

gagement with the, contact-spring 34 and so open the circuit and thusopen the switch 46 and stop the operation of the electro-motive device4. I have found that with the apparatus shown in the drawings thesameoperates contact portion 31' will soon ride out of ent successfullyif the contact cylinder25 berotat ed at a speed of about two revolutionsper minute, so that the circuit is only maintained closed throughcontacts 31, 34 a few seconds at a time. If, however, the firstmomentary operation of the valve or pressure, regulating device 3 hasnot reduced the pressure in the section 2 -to the predetermined valuefor which the apparatus is set; the continued rotation of the-contactmember'25 will in a moment again bringthe contact portion 31 intocontact with the contact spring- 34 and so againclose the circuitthrough the magnet 40 and again cause the electro-responsive device 4 tofurther operate the valve or pressure regulating device 3 tofurtherreduce the pressure in the section 2. Thus variations from apredetermined pressure in the steam or fluid in the section 2 will causethe pressure regulating device 3 to operate intermittently momentarilyun-- til the pressure in the section 2 (and likewise the pressure in thechamber 9) is returned substantially to the predeterminedpressure orpredetermined value setting for which the apparatus is set and withoutsubvalve 3 in wide openposition such that the pressure in the section 2is very considerably greater than that for which the apparatus'is I set,the beam 16 may be elevated to such anextent as to bring the springcontact 34 into engagement with the upper and continuous band portion ofthe contact 29 and when in this position the circuit through magnet 40will not be intermittently broken as member" 25 revolves but the switch46 will be maintained closed and the electro-motive device 4 willoperate the valve or regulating device3 continuously until the pressurein the section 2 and chamber 9 is brought more closely tothepredetermined pressure for which the apparatus is set, whereupon thebeam 16 will drop until the switch arm 33 brings the contact 34 to sucha position that it will only make intermittent contact with the contact31- as the contact cylinder 25 revolves. Thus I have provided meanswhereby certain variations from a predetermined value setting ina'certain condition will cause the regulating means 3 to operateintermittently until said condition is returned substantially to saidpredetermined value setting and also whereby larger departures from saidpredetermined value, will cause said regulating means to operateconstantly in a direction tending to return said condition toward saidpredetermined value setting.

Thus I have provided an arrangement by which the motor 4 and valve maybe given a relatively small movement in a given time when the variationsfrom the predetermined pressure are relatively small, and a relativelylarge movement in the same given time when the variations from thepredetermined pressure are relatively large; or by reason of thecircumferential contacts 29 and 30 extending substantially entirelyaround the periphery of the member 25 at its ends and by reason of thetapering projections on the rotating contacts, the motor 4 is energizedintermittently and with the periods of encrgization relatively short ascompared with the periods of non.energization when the departures fromthe predetermined pressure are relatively small, and the periods ofenergiza'tion are larger when the departures from said predeterminedvalue are larger, and the motor is energized substantially continuouslywhen the departures from said predetermined value are still larger.

Likewise if the pressure in the section 2 (and consequently also in thechamber 9) should drop below the predetermined value for which theapparatus is set, the beam 16 will lower the switch arm 32 so thatcontact 34 will bebrought into intermittent momentary engagement withthe contact portion 32 and thus cause the intermittent closing of thecircuit through the magnet 41 and a corresponding intermittent operationof the relay switch 47 which will cause an intermittent operation of theelectro-motive device 4 to intermittently momentarily operate theregulating means 3 in the opposite direction to increase the pressure ofthe steam in the section 2. Likewise should the departure from thepredetermined pressure of the fluid in section 2 be so great as to causethe switch contact 34 to be brought into engagement with the continuousband portion of contact 30, the regulating device 3 will be continuouslyor constantly operated until the pressure of the fluid in the section 2is brought within certain smaller variations from the predeterminedpressure, when the contact 34 will come only into engagement with thecontact portion intermittent operation of the regulating device 3 untilthe pressure in the section 2 is returned substantially to thepredetermined pressure for which the apparatus is set.

By reason of the intermittent operation of the regulating device as thepressure is brought back nearly to the predetermined value for which theapparatus is set, substan- 32 and so cause an latmg apparatus is tialhunting of the regulating means is prevented. If the circuits weremaintained closed until the pressure in section 2 had been brought backto the predetermined value for which the apparatus is set, then the lagin tions in the pressure of the steam or fluid in the section 2.However, momentarily the operation of the regulating device 3 before thepressure has been brought back to the predetermined value for which theapparatus is set, the action of the reguby discontinuing the desiredpressure is approached and the apparatus thereby made more eflicient.

While I have described my improvements in great detail and with respectto one preferred embodiment thereof, I do not desire to be limited tosuch details or embodiment since many changes and modifications may bemade and the invention embodied in widely different forms of apparatuswithout departing from the spirit and scope thereof in its broaderaspects. Hence I desire to cover all modifications, forms andembodiments coming within the language or scope of any one or more ofthe appended claims.

lVhat I claim as new by Letters Patent is:

l. A fluid pressure regulating arrangement having in combination withmeans holding a fluid under pressure, means for yarying the pressure ofthe fluid in said holdng means, means whereby certain variations 1n thepressure of the fluid in said holding means from a predetermined value,will cause said regulating means to operate intermittently until thepressure of the fluid in said holding means is returned substantially tosaid predetermined value and whereby larger departures in the pressureof the fluid in said holding means from said predetermined value willcause said regulating means to operate constantly until the pressure ofthe fluid in said holding means is brought within said first mentionedcertain variations.

2. A fluid pressure regulating apparatus having in combination, meansfor regulating the admission of fluid under pressure, and meansresponsiveto variations in pressure from a predetermined pressuresetting for causing said fluid admission regulating means to operateintermittently until the pressure is returned substantially to saidpredetermined pressure setting, said last mentioned means includingelectro-responsive means for controlling the operation of said fluidadmission regulating means, and a switch device for controlling saidelectro-responsive' means, said switch device having a continuouslyrotating member with a contact thereon comprisin effect, dampened as anddesire to secure ing a substantially continuous contact extendingcircumferentially around the same and a contact extending therefromparallel with the axis of rotation of said rotating member, and acontact member moved into and out of contact with said contactsresponsive-tosaid variations in pressure. I e I 3. A fluid pressureregulating arrangement having incombination, means for regulating theadmission of fluid under pressure, and means responsive to variations inpressure from a predetermined pressure setting for causing said fluidadmission regulating means to operate until the pressure is returned substantially to said predetermined pressure setting, said last mentionedmeans controlling said first mentioned means to cause the latter tooperate substantially continuously when the variations from thepredetermined pressure are relativelyvlarge and to operate onlyintermittently and for intervals which determined value setting willcause said reguare relatively short as compared with the intervals ofnon-operation when the variations from the predetermined pressure arerelatively small.

4. Regulating apparatus having in combination regulating means forvarying a certain condition, means whereby relatively small variationsfrom a predetermined value setting-in said condition will cause saidregulating means to operate intermittently until the said condition isreturned substantially to said predetermined value setting and wherebylarger departures from said prelating means to operate substantiallycontinuously ina direction tending to return said condition toward saidpredetermined value setting. a

5. Regulating apparatus having incombination regulating means forvarying a certain condition, means whereby relatively small variationsfrom a predetermined value setting in said conditions will cause saidregulating means to operate intermittently until said condition isreturned substantially to said predetermined value setting, the lengthof each intermittent operation being relatively small as compared withthe length of the intervals between intermittent operations, and meanswhereby larger'. departures from said predetermined .value setting willcause said re ulating means-to operate substantial- 1y continuously in adirection tending to return said condition toward said predeterminedvalue setting; Y

/ egulatingapparat having. in combination; means for regulating theadmission of afluid under pressing-"an electric motor for operating thesame and switching means controllingithe energization of said motorresponsive to variations in fluid pressure from a predetermined pressuresetting, and where by themotor is energized substantially continuouslywhenthe variations from the predetermined pressure are relatively largeand i the motor is operated-only intermittently and for intervals whichare relatively short as 'compared with the intervals of non-energizationwhen the variations are relatively small.

7. Regulating apparatus having in combination, means for regulating thepressure of fluid, an electric motor for operating the same, a switchfor energizing said motor, means controlling said switch responsive tovariations in the pressure of sa d fluid from a predetermined value,said switch acting to energize said motor intermittently and with theperiods of energization relatively short as comparedwith the periods ofnon-energization when the departures from said predetermined pressureare relatively small,and with periodsof energizat-io'n longer when thedenation regulatingmeans for varying a cer tain condition, means wherebyvariations f from a predetermined value setting in said condition willcause said regulating means to operate until said condition is returnedsubstantially to said predetermined value setting, said regulating'means having a fixed framework, a memberrotating about a single axiswhich is fixed with respect to "said framework, said rotating memberhaving two electric contacts thereon, spaced from one another to form aneutral position therebetween, an electrical contact member pivotallymounted with respect to said fixed framework and adapted to swing fromsaid neutral position to make electrical contact with either of saidcontacts on'the rotating member, the contacts on said rotating membereach extending substantially entirely around said rotating mem= ber andr'each having a projection extending therefrom parallel with'the axis ofsaid rotating member and with which the pivotally mounted'co ita'ct isadapted to make contact before it makes contact with the portion whichextends substantially entirely around the rotating member, as thepivotally mounted contact swings from said neutral position.

9. Regulating apparatus having in combination regulating meansforvarying a certain condition, means whereby variations from-apredeterminedvalue setting in'said condition will cause said'regulatingmeans to operate until said condition is returned substantially to saidpredetermined value setting, said regulating means having a rotatingcontact memher having a contact thereon extending substantially entirelyaround said rotating memher, an electric contact member adapted to swingover said rotating. member. axially thereof to make contact with saidfirst contact, said first contact having a projection extendingtherefrom and with which the second contact member is adapted to makecontact before it makes contact with the portion which extendssubstantially entirely around the rotating member, said projectiontapering outwardly away from the other portion thereof, whereby as thesecond mentioned Contact swings over the rotating member, a circuitthrough said contacts is closed intermittently at first for shortperiods of time, then for longer periods of time and finally substantiaLly constantly.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JAMES NELSON HELPBRINGER.

